Lowering our Expectations of Others
In Luke 14:8-11, Jesus talks about the perils of sitting in the most honored seat. Doing so may result in being asked to move to a less honored seat and cause shame. Jesus then says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The Holy Spirit calls this a parable, and there is a spiritual application.
What is the mindset behind seeking the more honored seat? It is thinking too highly of ourselves as Paul warns us against in Romans 12:3. What does this look like in our daily lives? Sometimes thinking more highly of ourselves presents in what we expect of others. Do we expect others to treat us in a certain way? How do we expect them to treat us? Should we expect this of them? Are we wanting them to think of us more highly than we ought to think? Do we want to be respected? Do we want to be loved? Do we want to be admired? Do we want to be served? Do we want to be treated fairly? Do we want to be seen as something?
Have you noticed that all of these questions lead back to our own desires? What we desire of others reveals our expectations of them and our high opinion of ourselves. Perhaps instead of seeking the “honorable seat” in the minds of others we should seat ourselves in the lower place by lowering or even eliminating our expectations and focus on our own behavior. Doing so will actually enable us to do what God wants us to do: love our neighbor as ourselves.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley